May 7, 2007 - A knife-wielding suspect fatally shot after she threatened two uniformed Houston police officers at 1200 Travis on Sunday (May 6) has been identified.

The suspect, Marnell Robertson Villareal (b/f, DOB 9/28/64) with a last known address of 2503 Panagard sustained a single gunshot to the chest and was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital where she died.

Two Houston police officers discharged weapons, one deployed his Conducted Energy Device (CED) and the other discharged his service revolver as the suspect charged at them with a knife clutched in her raised fist. Officer E. D. Smith, who deployed his CED, was sworn in as an HPD officer in December 2002. Officer A. B. Clay, who discharged his service revolver, was sworn in as an HPD officer in June 1998. Both officers, who are assigned to the Crime Analysis and Command Center Division, were uninjured. They are both part of the security detail for police headquarters.

The female suspect entered police headquarters at approximately 2:10 a.m. brandishing a knife and yelling at officers to " Shoot me, kill me. I want to end this." The two officers repeatedly gave verbal commands for the suspect to drop her weapon, which she ignored. The suspect charged towards Officer Clay with the knife and Officer Smith discharged his CED, which did deploy. However, it is unknown whether the darts struck the suspect because she continued to advance. Officer Clay, fearing for his safety, discharged one round from his service revolver at the charging suspect, striking her in the chest.

When officers are confronted with suspects attempting deadly force against them, they are trained to respond with deadly force. In this specific case, officers showed great restraint and put themselves at risk by attempting to use less-lethal force as a first option. CED's are considered intermediate tools, the same as a baton and pepper spray.

As is customary with HPD officer-involved shootings in the city limits, HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions and the Harris County District Attorney's office are investigating the incident.

Update: NJM/JFC 5/7/07
NJM/DWR/JFC/CAM
Inc # 065913307

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